Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-05-06
Reform Once More.

-uIs L1uttVf - eiIOWtHS up MY iStltI III
last weeks SENTINEL, and Irregular Re-
formers" idea that the general prosperity
and peace furnish evidence OF the integrity
and ability OF rulers, it becomes, it seems to
me, pertinent To look into the history of ag
gressien; for Junius' assertion is only partly
true. think it will be found, upon reilec-
ton, that times of prstound peace, when the
people are unsuspicious, are the occasions
embraced by unscrupuleus leaders to tighten
the reins Of government aud esta slish those
practices which eventually lead to revo-
luton and anarchy. The approaches to
tyranny and corruption in politics are slow
and insiaious. Only few watchful and
sensitive natures perceive the first slight
Earring that denotes the presence of some
obstruction. The mass OF people, slow to
suspect wrong, aycrse TO conflict, patient to
the last degree, do not become aware of the
danger until the air is burdenej with
alarm, and only swift, stern, determined ac-
ton can avert disaster. And these slow,
insidious encroachneats upon the indepen-
dence Of the people, are the most deadly and
tar-reachng Of the "perSts Of peace"
In determining the motives Of men in
power, what actually GENES to pass is not
the only criterion what they attempt to do
is equally significant. The latter does not
PInJ tuC hhpOibaut Pdib ~ III kOii-
strung the history of given time, because
men are So much occupied with their daily
duties and struggles that they have little
time and little inclination to study the los
sons Of mems failures
Let US glance.at some Of the purposes OF
these who are just now the SO called leaders
Of the Democratic party of Maryland as we
fad them recorded in the Legislative his.
tory OF the State. II will be found that
much effort has been made to concentrate
the power and patronage of the State in
few hands, a condition sf things always dan
gerous and always leading TO corruption in
popular governments, and that this effort
was made at time when an overwhelming
victory at the polls had doubled the re
sponsibility Of the Democratic party.
The 10000 majority given for the Demo-
cratic ticket at the election in November,
1885, cmboldcned the bosses 1t was thought
to be favorable time for carrying out some
long cherished schemes, and they went
straightway To work to csncoct the neces-
sary legislative measures To secure the fruits
of the victory.
The early.call Convention bill was one of
these. ann forced to differ with those who
think that the chief object Of this movement
was to secure snbservient judiciary in
Baltimore City. All that such II judiciary
could do was to be accomplished by "a diff
fsrent and less conspicuous method, as will
be seen further On. Ii the early-call bill
had passed, the bill looking to the lease of
the canal wsuld never have been introduced.
BY constitutional provisions the Board Of
Public Works would have been clothed
with ample power in the premises. II has
been said that the managers were indifferent
u the fate of the early.cal bill, but that
statement is untrue 1t is Il fact Of inside
history that they made the recommendation
in his message vi AN early call the the con
dition upon which Governor Lloyd was u
receive their support in the General Assem-
bly,; and il is equally well known that the
prime object Of such n Convention was to
get rid Of certain cumbersome provisions OF
the present Constitution affecting the Chesa.
peake and Ohio Canal,
But how to make certain OF securing
the requisite majority for the Convention?
There had been no previous agitation oil the
subject aud the managers were somewhat
startled " discover that the conservative
sentiment OF the State was largely against it,
Then appeared what is known as the Grand
Jury bill, clothing the Sheriff OF Baltimore
City with the power To summon the Grand
Juries for that jurisdiction. The election
supervisors were secure and subssrvient, but
the Reform League was alert and active,
and " shield the corrupt judges OF election
who would make the necessary majority for
the Convention, 1T was Of the hrst mportance
to have Grand Juries which would fail TO
perceive that the BOSSES orders or the hench-
mems tricks were contrary to law. The
Sheriff who WAS To perform this delicate
and responsible duty was Henry g Fielder
man Recent events in the Criminal Court
Of Baltimore City show how faithfully he
would have executed his trust
But, 10 make ASSURANCE double sure" a
measure was introduced whose object was
| To secure absolutely to the bosses large and
valuable patronage. This measure has been
very little discussed, perhaps because IL died
so Young. II was "A Bill Entitled an Act
to create State Beard Of Commissioners
for Public Charities, Prisons and Reform.
tory Institutions" The State Treasurer for
the time being was to be .ne OF the Board,
the sther two to be elected by the Legisa-
ture every six years They were To receive,
each, 81, 800 year, and to have clerk with
a salary Of $1,000. Their powers were 10
examise into the condition of all charitable
and fel0rmatory institutions assisted by the
State, &c, to "have full power, authority and
control over the Maryland Penitentiary and
the House vi Correction, To appoint all war
dens, supcrintenaents, physicians, clerks or
secretaries Of the said Maryland Peniten-
tiary and Maryland House of Correction,
and upon the recommendation OF the war
den or superintendent, appoint all deputy
wardens, keepers, watchmen, matrsns and
ether officers and employees Of said insttu
items and all power. authority, duties, vb.
legations and requirements, now vested by
law in the Beard OF Directors of the Mary
land Penitentary and Board of Managers
OF the Maryland House Of Correction, be
and they are hereby vested in the said Board
of Commissioners by this Act created"
Apart frsm the vicisus precedent Of Great
ing three entirely useless Offices, and Of max
log the General Assembly an electoneering
ground, the above is about as unique piece
Of tricky as sne often encounters. With the